SONNETS. I. TO THE NIGHTINGALE. O NIGHTINGALE, that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are still; Thou with fresh hope the lover's heart dost fill, While the' jolly Hours lead on propitious May. Thy liquid notes that close the eye of day, First heard before the shallow cuckoo's bill, Portend success in love; O, if Jove's will Have link'd that amorous power to thy soft lay, Now timely sing, ere the rude bird of hate Foretel my hopeless doom in some grove nigh; As thou from year to year hast sung too late For my relief, yet hadst no reason why: Whether the Muse, or Love, call thee his mate, Both them I serve, and of their train am I. II. DONNA leggiadra, il cui bel nome honora De sui atti soavi giamai parco, E i don', che son d'amor saette ed arco, Quando tu vaga parli, o lieta canti Che mover possa duro alpestre legno, Guardi ciascun a gli occhi, ed a gli orecchi L'entrata, chi di te si trouva indegno; Gratia sola di su gli vaglia, inanti Che'l disio amoroso al cuor s'invecchi. III. QUAL in colle aspro, al imbrunir di sers Va bagnando l'herbetta strana e bella Cosi Amor meco insù la lingua snella Desta il fior novo di strania favella, Mentre io di te, vezzosamente altera, Canto, dal mio buon popol non inteso E'l bel Tamigi cangio col bel Arno. Amor lo volse, ed io a l'altrui peso Seppi ch' Amor cosa mai volse indarno. Deh! foss'il mio cuor lento e'l duro seno A chi pianta dal ciel si buon terreno. CANZONE. RIDONSI donne e giovani amorosi M' accostandosi attorno, e perche scrivi, Spuntati ad hor, ad hor a la tua chioma L'immortal guiderdon d' eterne frondi Perche alle spalle tue soverchia soma? IV. DIODATI, e te'l dirò con maraviglia, Gia caddi, ov❜ huom dabben talhor s'impiglia. E degli occhi suoi auventa si gran fuoco V. PER certo i bei vostr'occhi, Donna mia Da quel lato si spinge ove mi duole, Scosso mi il petto, e poi n'uscendo poco Quivi d' attorno o s'agghiaccia, o s'ingiela ; Ma quanto a gli occhi giunge a trovar loco Tutte le notti a me suol far piovose Finche mia Alba rivien colma di rose. VI. GIOVANE piano, e semplicette amante De pensieri leggiadro, accorto, e buono; Sol troverete in tal parte men duro, VII. ON HIS BEING ARRIVED TO THE AGE OF 23*. How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stol'n on his wing my three and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arriv'd so near; And inward ripeness doth much less appear, It shall be still in strictest measure even Tow'rd which Time leads me, and the Will of As ever in my great Task-Master's eye. [Heaven; Written at Cambridge in 1631, and sent in a letter to a friend, who had importuned Milton to take orders. VIII. WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY*. CAPTAIN, or Colonel, or Knight in arms, [seize, Whose chance on these defenceless doors may . If deed of honour did thee ever please, Guard them, and him within protect from harms. He can requite thee; for he knows the charms That call Fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower: The great Emathian conqueror bid spare The house of Pindarus, when temple' and tower Went to the ground; and the repeated air Of sad Electra's poet had the power To save the' Athenian walls from ruin bare. IX. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG LADY. LADY, that in the prime of earliest youth To fill thy odorous lamp with deeds of light, * In 1642; the King's army having arrived at Brentford, and thrown the city of London into great consternation. |